WOMEN play a vital role in the Welsh agricultural industry, says Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.

She told the National Federation of Women’s Institutes’ Wales Public Affairs Conference in Builth Wells last week that the unspoken secret of success in farming is that many of the key players in it are female.

“There is no doubt that the role of women in agriculture has been undervalued over the decades,” she told the conference.

“Today, women continue to play a pivotal role in the development and sustainability of farming.”

The key role of women in family farming businesses was reflected in the first year of the new Young Entrant Support Scheme, where around 20% of successful applicants are young women either taking a lead role in established farming businesses or setting up new farm businesses with their partners.

The Assembly Government’s flagship Farming Connect programme was also actively working with women to help them to realise their potential by developing skills and knowledge.

“The greatest strength of the Welsh agricultural industry is its family farm network,” said the Minister.

“In the future that will become an even more prized asset, as climate change brings major changes to the ability of farmers in different countries to produce food.

“In Wales, we continue to be blessed with the most worthwhile of resources – rainfall and water, although its pattern may change. We will also have large markets on our doorstep. Other farmers and other countries are not as confident about their ability to continue to farm and produce food longer term.

“The next few years will see the agriculture industry become an ever more important sector in helping the recovery of the Welsh economy – our role is to help the industry to plan ahead.”